Humacao man sentenced to more than 17 years

Humacao man sentenced to more than 17 years in prison for production of child pornography

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – A Humacao-area man was sentenced Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico to more than 17 years in prison for production of child pornography. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) conducted the investigation that led to the arrest.

According to court records, on-or-about October 2016 through January 2017, Isaias Estrada-Morales, 41, of Humacao, took photographs and recorded videos of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. He was arrested by HSI special agents Jan. 20, 2017.

"Child exploitation investigations continue to be one of HSI’s highest priorities,” said Orlando Baez, acting special agent in charge of HSI San Juan. "No crime affects us more deeply than the exploitation of innocent children. We will continue working with our federal, state and local partners to identify arrest and prosecute those who in the cruelest manner steal the innocence of our children.”

This investigation was conducted under HSI’s Operation Predator, an international initiative to protect children from sexual predators. Since the launch of Operation Predator in 2003, HSI has arrested more than 16,000 individuals for crimes against children, including the production and distribution of online child pornography, traveling overseas for sex with minors, and sex trafficking of children. In fiscal year 2016, more than 2,600 child predators were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative and more than 800 victims identified or rescued.

HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators. From outside the U.S. and Canada, callers should dial 802-872-6199. Hearing impaired users can call TTY 802-872-6196.

Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, via its toll-free 24-hour hotline, 1-800-THE-LOST.

For additional information about wanted suspected child predators, download HSI’s Operation Predator smartphone app or visit the online suspect alerts page. HSI is a founding member of the Virtual Global Taskforce, an international alliance of law enforcement agencies and private industry sector partners working together to prevent and deter online child sexual abuse.